…As 161 bag first
The University of Port Harcourt, Choba in Rivers State, has said that a total of 19,235 students would be graduating during the two-day combined convocation ceremony scheduled for today and tomorrow.
The institution also said that out of the number,161 students bagged first class honuors in various courses and disciplines.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Owunari Georgewill, disclosed this during the pre-convocation media briefing heldat the university’sSenate Conference Room, yesterday, to herald the commencement of the week-long programme.
Gerogewill said that the combined convocation covers the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 sessions, noting that the university had put measures in place to realise its mandate.
The vice chancellor, while giving the breakdown of the graduands, said 9,536 graduated with first degrees (BSC),1,028 for PhD,3,745 for Masters’ degree(MSC),while 4,926 got post graduate diploma (PGD),just as 9,699 got post graduate certificates.
According to him, the outbreak of COVID-19 and the prolonged industrial action embarked upon by members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions in the university was responsible for what appears as delay in holding the convocation ceremony.
He described the convocation ceremony as a moment of intellectual exhibition where university the presents students with certificates after hard studies and mentoring.
“We have put all machineries in place to ensure hitch-free convocation ceremony. We have left Egypt but not yet in Israel.
“We came here in July, 2021. We have maintained some giant strides in terms of developments. We have completed some inherited projects, and initiated new once. Some are ongoing and at different stages of completion. We have support from the Governing Council, Senate, management and students. Our ASUU members are up and doing, completing their lectures and exams as scheduled; the school has also provided solar power lights for some of her host communities as part of its host community projects”, he stated.
Georgewill used the opportunity to express gratitude to the Federal Government, TETFund, the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for their numerous support and assistance to the university towards its development.
He described the ongoing convocation arena under construction by the state governor as a big support to the institution, adding that when completed, it would be the best across the entire university system in the country.
